Branson olive oil company closes over bankruptcy, lawsuit

The owner of an olive oil shop at Branson Landing closed the store amid a bankruptcy filing and a lawsuit judgment.

Davo Olive Oil Inc. owner John Wallen filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Dec. 5, following the completion of a breach-of-contract suit against him on Nov. 14. Wallen operated the store that did business as Dove Olive Oil Co. at 317 Branson Landing Blvd. The company’s Facebook page lists the business as permanently closed, and the phone number listed is no longer in service.

Located between Build-A-Bear Workshop and the Francesca’s clothing boutique, according to BransonLanding.com, Dove Olive Oil sold more than 60 varieties of virgin olive oil, as well as pasta, tea, sea salts and other products, according to its Facebook page.

The largest creditor is Devon Johnson, who co-founded the business then known as Devon’s Kitchen and later as Devo Olive Oil before agreeing to sell her stake to Wallen in January 2014, according to the filing and Taney County Circuit Court documents. The bankruptcy petition indicates Wallen owes Johnson $161,138. Creditors also include Branson Landing owner HCW, at $29,484 in business debt owed.

In the suit, Johnson successfully argued breach of contract against Wallen, who failed to make payments to her for the business acquisition. The judgment calls on Wallen to pay Johnson $150,000, according to court documents.